The home as political statement

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For some Southern Californians, it’s time to pull candidates’ signs from the frontyard now that the June election has passed. But for an outspoken few, the campaign won’t end — not when lawns, windows and rooftops provide a place to make political or social statements all year round.

Pasadena residents Patrick Briggs and Maddie Gavel have a banner in front of their home that says, ‘Stand up & stop the corporate de$truction of America!’ — just the latest in a years-long effort. The couple first fought for their right to express themselves on home turf in 2005. When the city forced them to remove a 6-by-8-foot banner protesting the Iraq war — it read, ‘Bush lied. People died’ — Briggs and Gavel, with the ACLU — sued the city and won.

Since then, their signs have expressed any number of opinions, including protest of government wiretapping and support for healthcare reform.

Read more about the Briggs and others like them who use their homes to make political statements throughout the year here.

-- Audrey Davidow

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